Defending champions look to dominate Afghans on high-scoring pitch in New Delhi
Ben Stokes stretches during a practice session on the eve of England’s match against Afghanistan at New Delhi on Saturday. Pic/AFP
If the free-scoring England batters get going on the benign Kotla pitch in their match against Afghanistan today, many batting records could be under threat.
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The previous two games here were a run-feast, with South Africa notching up a World Cup record total against Sri Lanka and India chasing down 272 in mere 35 overs against Afghanistan. The famed Afghanistan spin trio of Rashid Khan, Mujeeb-ur-Rahman and Mohammad Nabi have found it difficult to keep the batters in check on flat tracks, especially in the latter half when dew plays its part.
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Tough task
If they decide to bowl, the aggressive England batters can take the match away by posting a massive total and if the Afghans decide to defend, then too they face a tough task under lights, like they did against India.
Afghanistan have no option but to post a massive total, which they have failed to do in both of their games. They have the batters who can provide fireworks, but somehow, they have not used their potential to the optimum. In captain Hashmatullah Shahidi, Rahmat Shah, Ibrahim Zadran and Rahmanullah Gurbaz they have batters who can tear any bowling attack apart on their day. Only with a total above 350 can their bowlers hope to apply pressure and make a match of it.
Missing big hits
As for the England batters, they have yet to hit peak form. Dawid Malan did hit a century against Bangladesh, but the other top order batters including skipper Jos Buttler has yet to produce a big one.
This is the ideal match for them to find their aggro which was missing in the inaugural game in Ahmedabad, where they were out-batted by New Zealand.
England have some important games coming up, including against India in Lucknow on October 29. Before that, they would like their rusty engine oiled in today’s game and also hope their top all-rounder Ben Stokes gets fit soon so that he can get into the groove for the remaining matches.
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